PHOENIX (NBA.com exclusive) --  Here's a reason for optimism surrounding this season's edition of the Suns: Their overwhelming, all-offense approach.

The reason for pessimism: Their overwhelming, all-offense approach.

Just how far their firepower will take them couldn't much be determined Friday night in their 123-101 dismantling of the Warriors.

After all, the Suns almost always beat the Warriors. More about this later.

The Suns at least needed to play more effectively on defense than they did in their opener, when they nipped the Clippers by two points but allowed 56 percent shooting.

They passed this most modest of tests, allowing 42 percent against the Warriors.

"We tried hard to hold them under 100," coach Alvin Gentry said.

Alas, a few late Suns' fouls put the Warriors in triple digits.

With the win, the Suns move to 2-0. The Warriors dropped to 0-2.

The most notable development: Amar'e Stoudemire looked less awkward than in the opener.

Stoudemire is coming back from a serious eye injury that required two surgical procedures.

"Right now, he's not the same Amar'e," Gentry said, pointing out Stoudemire hadn't played in a regular season game (until Wednesday) since Feb. 18th.

Stoudemire, who can make clumsy mistakes even at 100 percent, had five turnovers and five fouls.

But he also took two early charges and made a spectacular block to go with 20 points and five rebounds.

"It's amazing, the transformation he's had in terms of alertness," Gentry said.

"He has worked harder than I've ever seen him work, especially defensively. He wants to get better."

Counting the preseason, he has taken 10 charges in 10 games.

"That's telling me he's in the right spots," Gentry said. "He's doing everything he can to become the best defensive player he can be."

An exclamation point to the game was added by Channing Frye, the jump-shooting big man making his home debut in his hometown.

Frye, a nominal center who is replacing Shaquille O'Neal in the starting lineup, bombed home 6-of-7 on 3-pointers en route to 22 points.

"The opportunities here are great," Frye said. "You'll rarely see me complaining."

The game also was notable in that the Suns got a look at the player whom they tried to land on draft day in a trade that would have shipped Stoudemire to the Bay.

In the end, the Warriors didn't want to part with Stephen Curry (they also likely would have given up big man Andris Biedrins).

So far, Curry looks "super," coach Don Nelson said. "He's going to be very good."

Gentry, while not wanting to discuss any continuing interest the Suns may have in Curry, said, "He's a big-time competitor. He's smart enough that he can run a team. And obviously he's an excellent shooter.

"He's got a real bright future in the league. He really does."

But he's no Steve Nash at this point, even though the Suns seem to see similarities in their games.

On Friday, Curry got in foul trouble and settled for 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting.

By contrast, Nash had 18 points and 20 assists.

Said Curry, who acknowledged the Suns were "very interested" in him before the draft, said, "Twenty assists? That's hard to do."

"He's always in the right position to set his teammates up."

As for the Warriors, they are basically stuck when they play the Suns.

They play a similar ,though more extreme, sort of small, race-horse basketball. They just don't have the same talent stockpile.

So it's not surprising that the Suns have won 38 of the past 52 between them.

Nelson tried a different tack when he started young Anthony Randolph up front in place of Ronny Turiaf.

He had Randolph guard Frye instead of Stoudemire. "He's not ready for that," Nelson said beforehand. "But I like him in this game."

Randolph ended up with 12 points, though he shot just 2-for-9, and seven boards.

All in all, "They had their way with us," Nelson said.

"They dominated us the whole game," said Stephen Jackson, who had 13 points.

"We were soft."